What A Week

rhino virus (common cold) illustration

So, I'm still trying to recover from the micro-beastie that decided to make its home in my body.

Downside: It's been a week already, I'm not yet completely better, and I am so beyond ready to be healthy again.

Upside: Crafty goodness.

Yes, it's true. I got past the not being able to concentrate thing, and have been busy working on several projects.

First up we have the Triangular Summer Shawl. I started this last October, but after the initial cast-on and first few rows, it got set aside in favor of other projects. I don't know why. Its knit with linen/silk blend handspun, which I like. Its a pattern I've done before and like. There is no reason not to have been working on it. But I wasn't.  Having gotten a couple of things off the needles, I decided to work only on my wips, so this got picked back up. I have about 40 more rows on the shawl (each shorter than the one before, so it goes quickly), a lace edging, sewing on the lace edging, washing, blocking, and weaving in the ends.

Come to think of it, it sounds like I still have quite a lot of work to do. And here I was getting all excited about how close to finishing I was getting.

Next up is the sock I'm designing as I go. I picked up a ball of Indulgence from my lys, and loved the feel of the yarn and the color so much, I decided to cast on a sock immediately. I wasn't sure how the color repeat would go, but it turns out to be self-striping, so I knew that I could get away with some patterning without it being too busy or getting lost. I've got lace panels framing a center section of cables and ribbing. I like the way they are coming out, but am not thrilled with the short-row heel that I'd used. I think I'll do some looking around to find a heel that works better for these socks. Any suggestions? I also don't have a name for these yet, so any suggestions would be welcome.

Note to self: Make sure to write down what you've been doing, so that the second sock will actually match the first.

Finally there is the cashmere I've been spinning. I was able to pick up some incredibly soft and lovely cashmere top, and was trying to spin it for a wedding ring shawl (examples of which are Shetland and Orenburg shawls).

Truth is, it is nowhere near fine enough for that, but it is a good lace weight. The above skein is about 2 oz. (50 g), is two-ply, and is approximately 440 yards (400 meters). It is clear to me that I still have a long way to go before I'm able to ply as well as I'd like to, and before I'll be able to spin for a wedding shawl, but I have decided, overall, to be pleased with this yarn.

I still have another 2 oz. to spin and ply, and then will go in search of the perfect project. If anyone has a pattern they would like to recommend, I am open to all suggestions.

Sideways Folded Scarf

This scarf was another Knit Picks project.  By the way, have I ever mentioned how much fun it is to be able to knit for them?  Getting to try out different books and patterns, not to mention their fabulous yarns, has really added to my wish list...and stash. 

Back to the scarf.  The pattern comes from Luxe Knits: The Accessories by Laura Zukaite.  It's a simple one page pattern that is very well written and easy to understand.  I don't remember there being any errors in the pattern.

It was an easy, fast knit, using Swish Worsted Yarn in Squirrel Heather and Stroll Sock Yarn in Dove Heather on size US 10 (6 mm) circular needles - I used the nickle plated Options interchangeables.  The Swish Worsted is used to work the folds, and the folds are the rows that took the longest to work as you pick up and knit the picked up stitches with the live stitches to create them.

The fabric between the folds is knit with the Stroll Sock yarn, and goes very quickly on the large needles.  The contrast of the lighter and darker yarns makes it lovely, and the wool yarn makes it warm.  It's also easy care because it's superwash.

Details:

Pattern Name:  Sideways Folded Scarf
Designer:  Laura Zukaite
Pattern Source:  Luxe Knits: The Accessories
Yarns:  Knit Picks Swish Worsted Yarn in Squirrel Heather
            Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn in Dove Heather
Needle: US 10 (6 mm) circular needles

The Rosebud Shawl

This beautiful Faroese-style shawl features a rosebud pattern framed in diamonds.  Knit from the lower pointed edge up; the construction is unique in working each individual point in sequence -- somewhat similar to the way that entrelac is worked, but keep in mind the similarity is VERY slight.

 

 
Once all the points are finished, the center gusset and garter stitch side panels are worked simultaneously.  The top border is knit in unwrapped short rows, joining the border with the top edge of the shawl.  Wash, block, et voila!  A lovely bit of lace to wrap yourself in.

Although my description of the process is just a tad confusing ;), the pattern is very well written and easy to follow, but there is a little errata for one of the charts.  Once you have the chart correction, you MUST follow the pattern.  Even when you think it's doing something crazy, trust the pattern.  Then you, too, can have this lovely shawl for yourself.

 
Rosebud Faroese-Style Shawl by Margaret Stove is from the book Wrapped in Lace published by Interweave.

Knit for the July/August 2011 issue of the Knit Picks catalog (where it can be found on p. 5), using Knit Picks Shadow lace yarn in the "Nocturne Heather" colorway.

My Lady

 As I mentioned before, I participated in the "Swap the Seasons" fiber craft swap, hosted by CoggieTM of The High Fiber Diet podcast.  MargoKP kindly sent me the loveliest hank of yarn - StrickenSmitten's Shimmer Glimmer in the Serendipity colorway.

I knew I had to do something special with this yarn, but I wasn't sure what.  Until I found the Lady Magdalene Shawl by Kimberly Delacruz.  Perfect!

I got the pattern all printed up, and did the cast on, then had to set it aside to work on some deadline projects.  Well, I got the "have to-s" all finished, so I came back to this shawl.

The pattern is divided into four sections, which I liked as it keeps it from ever feeling overwhelming.  Knit with a fingering weight yarn on size US 7 needles, the shawl knits up quickly while the finished project is the perfect size.  The charts are clear, easy to read, and, most importantly, error free.

I love this yarn.  The fiber content (50% Merino wool/50% silk) and it's softness, the drape, the color...  It makes me happy just looking at it.  Needless to say, I wanted to use it ALL.  Fearing that I would have quite a bit left over when all was said and done, I added a repeat of chart 2.

Then I began running low on chart 3.

Knowing that I couldn't handle the trauma of ripping all the way back to take out the extra repeat, I began mentally running through my stash, trying to think of something that would go well with it.

I couldn't think of anything. 

I began to plan a trip to my lys to buy some black yarn (which I decided was the perfect complementary color to the green), but decided to do a quick rummage through the stash, just to be sure.  There is was!  The perfect yarn -- Bristol Yarn Gallery's Buckingham in Black!   Sadly, this yarn is now on closeout.  Get some while you still can.  It's truly lovely.

Okay, it was lace weight, but I decided that didn't really matter; I'd simply adjust.  So I did, switching to size US 4 needles to keep the stitches looking even, I knit up chart 4 in the black, knowing that it would all come out in the blocking.  And it did.

Dear Gypsy kindly consented to model it for me, after it was "styled" to her liking, of course.

Test Knit: Gallitan Sweater

I'm sure that most of the knitters who stop by here have received their Oct. 2010 Knit Picks Catalog.  Well, you know that gorgeous colorwork sweater on the front?  I didn't knit it, but I did test knit the Gallatin sweater.  I did it in the largest size -- making sure the yarn amounts were correct for the kit.

 

This sweater is knit with Wool of the Andes Bulky.  That means it knits up VERY quickly.  Colorwork?  Intarsia? And quick?  YES!  And the end result was a sweater I think is very beautiful.  Hats off to Nina, for a lovely, well-written, and easy-but-looks-complicated pattern!

The body is seamless, and the sleeves knit separately in the round, until the two parts are joined for the raglan shoulders.

Knit on the collar, do the belt, et voila!

Please excuse the dirty mirror.  My teenage son cleaned the bathroom, and guess what he forgot to do?

Stash Enhancement

A while back, Knit Picks, to promote their new videos, offered a 10% discount code to anyone who emailed a friend about them.  So, I did. :)

I got my code and wanted to make sure to use it before it expired.  And here is what I got

Details:

A wooden darning egg, which I was needing to repair some of my hand knit socks.

8 hanks of Alpaca Cloud - 4 of Smoke Heather and 4 of Tidepool Heather.  The photo doesn't do justice to the sheen or depth of color on these -- especially the Tidepool; I absolutely love that colorway!

12 balls of City Tweed DK - 10 of Emerald and 2 of Porpoise.  I fell in love with this yarn while knitting this sweater.  I cannot wait to have something for myself knit out of it.  And the colors are so beautiful!

The Nautical Blanket kit.  My father- and stepmother-in-law sail, and having settled in a cooler harbor, I thought this would make the perfect gift for them.  Being able to buy it as a kit makes it that much better. :)  I have started work on this, but will save the details (including the modifications I'm doing) for another post.

Have I mentioned that I really love this company?

Score!

We're getting things back to normal today after a lovely Easter visit from my MIL.  And it was very lovely.  A happy belated Easter to all of you.  He is risen indeed!

Last month, Jenny sent out some information about a fabulous sale going on at Smiley's Yarns.  Moda Dea Washable Wool for....$1.99/ball.  At that price I went a little nuts and ordered 30 balls of yarn - 10 each of purple, orange, and green.  On the Saturday before last, I was headed to knitting and spoke to Jenny who arranged to have the yarn available for me to pick up (thanks Jenny and Tom!).  

And here it is:

Soft and lovely, the colors are just what I wanted, and they complement each other so nicely, that I've decided to make the Yggdrasil Afghan with them.

Tibetan Clouds Beaded Stole

For the November 2009 edition of the Knit Picks catalog, I was fortunate to be able to knit the Tibetan Clouds Beaded Stole by Sivia Harding. Knit with fingering weight yarn, this stole is perfect for keeping the autumn and winter chill at bay. Lightly beaded, the stole starts with the center panel, then the sides are knit one at a time.

The yarn selected for this project was Gloss (70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk) in the Kenai colorway. And I got to select the beads to go with it.
They are 6/0 glass beads that I picked up at Michaels.

The center panel is created by starting in the center and repeating the pattern 4 times, making a perfectly symmetrical square. Then 2 of the sides are bound off, keeping live stitches on the other 2 for the side panels.

The sides are identical, featuring a lovely beaded brocade and feather and fan.

When finished the stole is 21" wide by 74" long; a bit too long for me to be able to photograph it all at once.

I would also like to recommend the book the pattern is found in, The Knitter's Book of Wool. Clara Parks has done a fabulous job explaining all things wool - and why it matters. And the patterns offer up something for everyone. You can read an excellent synopsis of it here.

Raspberry Wheat Ale Messenger Bag

I was very fortunate to be able to knit the Raspberry Wheat Ale Messenger Bag from Pints and Purls for Knit Picks Fall 2009 catalog. The bag was knitted with Wool of the Andes in Dune Twist, and knit up fairly quickly on size 6 needles. The pattern calls for larger needles, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get gauge with anything larger. I seem to have become a bit of a loose knitter when I wasn't looking.

This would be a perfect knitting bag. It is large enough to hold a sweater, and the pockets would keep everything well organized.

The bag is knit in pieces and sewn together before felting, with the back pocket being sewn in after felting. I love the ribbon detail! Plenty of room in that pocket for a pattern and some accessories.

There are also 2 side pockets that are left unfelted and are sewn in at the end. These would be a great place to store needles, scissors, or other small accessories.

I really like this bag, and think I will have to knit one for myself. Pink and green will be the perfect combination for me.

As Promised

As promised in my last post... The felted clogs I've been working on. The pattern is the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs, the yarn is Patons Classic Wool. Though it doesn't show well in these pictures, the pink and gray are lovely heathered colors.

And now, the before and afters:

These are my slippers before:

And after:

Jordan's before:

And after:

After they were knitted, Jordan's were about 18" long, and mine were about 16".

Afterward they were about 12 1/2" and 10 1/2" respectively.


They are so comfortable and cozy, and they really keep feet warm. Sadly, that makes them almost impossible to wear during the summer, but they're surely a wonderful winter treat.

I'm So Excited!

I'm so excited I could burst!

Today I got the Knit Picks email which stated that the new catalog (July 2009) was up. Well, remember when I mentioned that I had a new job? Being a test/project knitter for Knit Picks is the job. And my first project for them is in this catalog. It's the white shawl on page 2 - Triangular Summer Shawl, knit in Knit Picks Bare Merino Wool Lace Yarn.

I loved, loved, loved knitting this.

The construction was a little unusual, the nupps fun to do, and it knitted up quite quickly.

Thank you Nancy Bush for such a lovely pattern (and book!) and thank you Knit Picks for the opportunity to knit for you - you're wonderful!

Happenings

I have been feeling the need to do some nesting lately. This has manifested in the way I do my house cleaning, and in baking projects. So when I stopped by the drug store a few evenings ago and saw these in the clearance section, I had to bring them all home. Especially since they were only 99¢ each!

They are Roasting, Gifts from the Kitchen, Blissful Brownies, Toast It!, Brunch, Cupcakes, and Cookies & Bars. I spent a delightful evening going through them and making menu plans. And there were only 2 or 3 recipes that were repeated. I'm excited to get started.


But instead of using the cookbooks, I decided to bake a family favorite last night - Gingersnaps.

This recipe makes the most delicious gingersnaps ever. Even my DH who isn't overly fond of this type of cookie loves them. They have the perfect texture of slightly crisp on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. And the seasoning is just right too.


My own personal indulgence, however, was not cookies.
I LOVE Greek food.

Truly.
Deeply.
Passionately.
So today's baking project featured one of my favorites: Spanikopita (otherwise known as spinach pie).

The seasoned spinach and feta filling wrapped up in layers of buttery phyllo dough are so delicious. Add a dollop of homemade tzatziki sauce and I'm in culinary heaven. Of course, the baking isn't doing anything to help with the weigh down challenge, but I figure if I leave the cookies to the men and work a bit harder, the spanikopita indulgence won't throw me too far off.

All of this doesn't mean that I've been ignoring my fiber projects. I have two bobbins of superwash merino singles ready to be plied, and a bobbin of alpaca singles for Navajo plying.

Since both are birthday gifts, and a teensy bit late, I'm hurrying to get them finished and delivered to my friends. I hope they enjoy them. I've had fun working on them, spinning a bit thicker than I usually do. I'd heard from Bams on The High Fiber Diet podcast (sorry, I don't remember which episode) that it's a good idea to vary the thickness of your yarn or you may forget how to work with other thicknesses. Good advice, indeed, as I did struggle some with making the adjustment. Well worth it though.

I've also made quite a bit of progress on my Lines 'N Vines Cardigan from the Fall 2008 issue of Knitters Magazine (it's the cover sweater).

I've got the back and both fronts finished, and am just over halfway through the first sleeve. I'm really enjoying this pattern. The lacework ribbing adds just enough interest to keep from being boring, but not so much that I feel like my brain might explode. I'm looking forward to being able to wear it next winter. The yarn is stashed Mary Maxim Starlette in Chocolate Brown.

So, that's what's been happening with me. What's been happening with you?